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3 Feb 2012

Author Interview with Allison Rushby

Today
on the blog, we have Allison Rushby author of 9 novels, soon to be 10. When
Allison asked me if I would like a Q&A, of course I said yes, as I am
looking forward to her newest book, Shooting Stars, which comes out later this
month! Read on to find out about the inspiration behind, Shooting Stars, what Allison
misses most about Australia after moving to the UK, plus more!

What's
Shooting Stars about?

Shooting Stars centers on Jo, a sixteen-year-old
paparazzo living in LA. Jo is all about getting the perfect shot and doesn't
mind doing what it takes to get it, either. That is, until she's sent on an
undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett – teen superstar and the only
celebrity who's ever been anything close to kind to her – at an exclusive rehab
retreat in Boston. Taking, or not taking, the job is a huge decision for Jo.
Taking it would mean finally having enough money to pay for her dream: real
photography classes. But when she falls in love with Ned…? Suddenly everything
in Jo's world isn't as black and white as it usually is.

Was
there something in particular that inspired you to write this book?

The initial inspiration was reading an article
about a real-life sixteen-year-old paparazzo. I found my eyes boggling as I
read about how he got around LA either on his bicycle, or his dad drove him
late at night. I couldn't imagine what this part-time job must be like (as I
guessed it had to be extremely cut-throat, especially compared to working at
McDonald's!), so I decided to imagine away and came up with Jo. I had an
absolute ball researching this book, including reading trashy magazines and a
lot of books written by, and about, the paparazzi (fellow Aussie Darryn Lyons's
Mr Paparazzi is a fabulous one if you're looking). The things they had to say
about celebrity – about the dark side of celebrity and fame – were truly
revealing.

What
sort of books do you like to read?Anything and everything! At the moment, I'm
reading a lot of lovely fiction and non-fiction set in the 1920s, which has
been great in helping to shape the dialogue in the historical e-serial I'm
writing. A YA book I've read recently that I just adored was Stephanie
Perkins's Anna and the French Kiss and I have Lola and the Boy Next Door all
ready and waiting for me on my Kindle. I'm really looking forward to getting to
it!

What
was your favourite chapter (or part) to write and why?

I think I'd have to opt for the very obvious choice
of the pool scene. So many heightened emotions all coming together at once!
Plus shock when Jo finds out the truth about Ned. I think it's also an interesting
moment for Jo, because, before that point in time, I don't think she would have
believed she could ever be so wrong about somebody, or miss something so big
that was right in her face.

Since moving
to the UK recently, what do you miss most about Australia?I think everyone would expect me to say the warm
weather, or remembering what the sun looks like, but it's actually the really
small things about everyday life that you miss most. For example, knowing how
to mail something at the post office. I had to line up three times the other
day in order to post something. It was truly insane. I also desperately miss my
Fruche. They don't believe in it here and I hate yoghurt with a passion! Oh,
and swimming. And summer storms and... well, I'd better stop there!

Thanks Allison
for letting us get to know you and your very soon to be released book just a
little better! I hope your all even more excited to read Shooting Stars now, and
if you haven’t yet added it to your to-read list, go do that now!

Also, if you
would like to read an excerpt of Shooting Stars, go here!